Tanning 101: Understanding Different Skin Types

One of the greatest aspects of indoor tanning is the fact that you can tan completely in the nude if you like. Since each session is completely private, this type of tanning makes it possible for you to achieve a tan with absolutely no tan lines. If you do choose to wear clothing, however, the same clothing you would normally wear when tanning is just fine. On the other hand, if you have already been tanning and have developed tan lines, it is important to remember that those lighter areas will be more sensitive once you start tanning in the nude. As such, you will need to take the tanning process slow so you can build up a base tan on those lighter areas as well.

When you visit a tanning salon in order to build your base tan, the type of tanning lamps used and the amount of exposure that is best for you will depend largely upon your tanning history and your skin type. There are six broad categories under which every skin type falls. These categories are:

- Type 1: Skin that has a tendency to peel and to burn severely when exposed to the sun. This skin is almost impossible to tan and is typically found in people with fair skin, blue eyes, and freckles.

- Type 2: Skin that burns easily and peels, but it is possible to tan lightly. This skin type is most commonly found in people with blue, hazel, or brown eyes with blonde or red hair and fair skin.

- Type 3: Skin that has a tendency to receive moderate burns, but is capable of tanning with a certain amount of difficult. The majority of Caucasians fall within this category.

- Type 4: Skin generally burns very little and tans are generally easy to develop. This skin time is most commonly found in people with white or light brown skin that have dark eyes and brown hair. Certain ethnicities such as Orientals, Hispanics, and people with a Mediterranean heritage tend to fall in this category.

- Type 5: Skin tans easily, rarely burns, and tans tend to be significant. People with brown skin fall in this category, most typically found in Hispanics, American Indians, and East Indians.

- Type 6: Skin tans extensively and does not burn. People with black skin fall in this category, which most commonly includes African-Americans, Africans, and Australian Aborigines.

As a general rule, your skin will enjoy the same tanning results whether you tan indoors or outdoors. Therefore, if you are one of the 5% of the population that finds it impossible to tan, you won't get better results through indoor tanning. At the same time, if you have a tendency to burn when tanning, you will experience the same problems with indoor tanning. In addition, if your hair has a tendency to get lighter when tanning outdoors, it will get lighter when indoor tanning as well. As such, you should take all of the same precautions when tanning in a tanning bed as you would with outdoor tanning.